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How to get a New York death certificate

In New York, order a certified death certificate from the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records.1 Each certified copy costs $302. You can order online, by mail, at a local office or by phone. Only the people the state lists below can order a certified copy.

Last checked against official sources.

On this page
  1. Ways to order
  2. What a New York death certificate costs
  3. Who can order a New York death certificate
  4. ID you need
  5. What the application asks for
  6. Forms
  7. Years held and older records
  8. Special situations
  9. Warnings from the office
  10. The state office
  11. Questions people ask
  12. Sources

Born or died in the five boroughs of New York City? New York City keeps its own birth and death records, separate from New York State. Use the New York City vital records pages instead.

Ways to order

HowCost per copyProcessing timePayment
Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.$452, plus a vendor processing fee per transaction, not per copy, amount not published–Card and ACH2
By mail$302–Check and money order2
At a local office$103 (Erie County)––
By phone$452, plus a vendor processing fee per transaction, not per copy, amount not published–Card and ACH2

Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.

Vendor
VitalChek Network, Inc.1
Fees
  • Per copy $452
Expedited service
DOH mail forms direct expedited order placement and processing to VitalChek (online at www.VitalChek.com or by phone at 877-854-4481)1
Payment
Card and ACH2

Good to know

  • Do not order online for an apostille unless you select the long form4

Go to the ordering site2

By mail

Run by
New York State Department of Health2
Fees
  • Per copy $3021
Expedited service
$45. Expedited processing by mail; required when DOH forwards the certificate to the Department of State for an apostille4
Payment
Check and money order2
Make payable to
NYS Department of Health2
Mail to
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602
5

Good to know

  • Delivery to a P.O. Box or a third party requires a notarized statement and a copy of the applicant's driver license1

Open the application or mail instructions2

At a local office

Fees shown are from
Town of Holland (Erie County, NY) Town Clerk
Fees
  • Per copy $103

By phone

Run by
VitalChek Network, Inc.1
Fees
  • Per copy $452
Payment
Card and ACH2

What a New York death certificate costs

First certified copy
$302
Each additional copy
$301
Expedite fee
$454
If no record is found
The fee is kept as a search fee1

Types of copies

CopyAccepted forFee
Certified Copy1–$302
No Record Certification1–$301
Genealogy copy (uncertified)6–$226

Who can order a New York death certificate

The state names these people and bodies as able to order a certified copy. Each line gives the official wording.

  • Spouse, a parent named on the record, child and brother or sister2
  • Other people who have a2
    Proof: Court order or official letter showing the record is needed to process a claim1
  • Grandchild: The applicant must include along with the completed and signed application for a death certificate , a completed and notarized Affidavit to Request Certified Copy of Death Certificate , documentation demonstrating relationship and a copy of his or her identification.7
    Proof: Notarized affidavit DOH-5001 plus documentation of relationship8

Other kinds of copies

  • Genealogy copy Genealogist or family researcher: Death certificates - if on file for at least 50 years.6
Records open to the public after
50 years6

ID you need

Photo ID
Required2
Accepted ID
  • Driver's license
  • State-issued, nondriver photo-ID card
  • Passport
  • U.S. Military-issued, photo-ID2
Without that ID
  • Utility or telephone bill
  • Letter from a government agency dated within the last six months
2
Notarization
Required only when the certificate is to be delivered to a P.O. Box or a third party1
ID copy with a mail order
Include a copy of your ID1

What the application asks for

Have these details ready before you fill in the form or start an online order.1

  • Name of deceased
  • Social Security No. of deceased
  • Date of death or period to be covered by search
  • Date of birth
  • Age at death
  • Mother/parent birth name
  • Father/parent birth name
  • Death certificate no. (if known)
  • Local registration no. (if known)
  • Place of death
  • Purpose
  • Relationship to deceased

Forms

Years held and older records

Years the issuing office holds
1881 to today2
Older records
Albany, Buffalo and Yonkers records before 1914: those cities' local registrars6

Special situations

If no record is found
A No Record Certification is issued and the fee is kept1
Use abroad
DOH can forward a mail order to the Department of State for an apostille4 Details
Dual citizenship
Relatives seeking records for a foreign citizenship claim must follow DOH dual-citizenship rules (affidavits, POA or NYS court order)7 Details
If the person has died
If you are not spouse, parent, child or sibling, you must document a lawful right or claim (e.g. agency letter for a benefit claim)2
Fetal death
Pregnancy Loss Certificate issued free to the individual experiencing the loss (outside NYC)9 Details

Warnings from the office

  • Common denial reasons: Applications without proper ID; Failure to submit a copy of their U.S. passport in addition to the required identifications when applying from a foreign country that requires a passport for travel2
  • Not for New York City events1

The state office

Office
New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Records10
Mailing address
New York State Department of Health, Vital Records Certification Unit, P.O. Box 2602, Albany, NY 12220-2602
5
Walk-in address
800 North Pearl Street
6

Questions people ask

How much is a certified New York death certificate?

Each certified copy costs $30.21

Can I order a New York death certificate online?

Yes. Online through VitalChek Network, Inc.1

Who do I make the check or money order payable to?

Write it exactly as the office prints it: NYS Department of Health.2

What ID do I need?

The state accepts: Driver's license; State-issued, nondriver photo-ID card; Passport; U.S. Military-issued, photo-ID.2

Where are older New York death certificates kept?

Albany, Buffalo and Yonkers records before 1914: those cities' local registrars.6

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these official sources, checked on November 5, 2026. Tap a source number next to a fact to read the exact words.

  1. Doh 4376 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated November 1, 2013
  2. Death Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  3. Clerk | Town of Holland NYTown of Holland (Erie County, NY) Town Clerk
  4. Apostille for Vital RecordsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  5. Birth Certificates - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  6. Genealogy Records & Resources - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  7. Dual Citizenship and Vital RecordsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  8. Doh 5001 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated May 1, 2010
  9. Pregnancy Loss Certificate and Certificate of Still BirthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2026
  10. Doh 4380 (PDF)New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated September 1, 2019
  11. Birth, Death, Marriage & Divorce Records - New York State Department of HealthNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated January 1, 2023
  12. NYS Vital Records - Birth AmendmentsNew York State Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Recordsdated July 1, 2013